Across the world, tribal peoples' lands are being stolen and their communities devastated. ILO Convention 169 is the only international law designed to protect tribal peoples' rights. Most governments refuse to ratify it.

Sunday August 14, 2011, 3:35 pm
Unfortunately we have come to experience this devastating reality ~ All things will come full circle and all that is been taken and destroyed will come fully awakened in to a full on cleanse..

When my daughter was quite young (over 30 years ago), we spent a day at the Los Angeles IMAX theatre. One of the films graphically demonstrated the importance of the rainforest (diversity of species, cleansing the air, respect for indigenous peoples . . .) and I was devastated to find this out, almost to the point of tears.

It's even worse now. Greed, selfishness and lack of foresight are destroying this important part of nature's balanced ecosystem. We are, in actuality, DESTROYING our own future.

Sunday August 14, 2011, 4:49 pm
So true Carole. Thank you for posting, I have signed this one and have already signed the original petition by Rainforest Rescue.org along with all the other petitions on their site earlier this year as I'm receiving their mail alerts.
Glad to see that Christiane picked them all up and posted to change.org, so perhaps you all may want to also sign some of the other petitions listed down below on the page.
-Carole, how are you today, feeling a little better? I do hope so.

More mutant maniacal maleficence by MBM global putrefaction services. Where in all creation do these malignant purulent perpetrating biomasses come from? What could be the possible purpose? Experiencing a completely virulent diseased state of being? Something needs to neutralize the mutants--they're way out of hand.

Copy that Glenda and Jae. Thanks again Carole. I hope something will be done.

Sunday August 14, 2011, 5:53 pm
Right up my environmental alley. Thank you for this. Signed. And thank you to Dandelion for that beautiful quote from Chief Seattle. What is happening to our world is sociopathic madness. But I am hoping (I have to) that more people are waking up, and taking actions against the destruction of our world - of us. One world.

Monday August 15, 2011, 12:02 am
Thank you for posting this important petition dear Just. I have signed with great pleasure. The elite's domination of indigenous peoples is indeed a huge global problem. I subscribe to Survival International, which is an important organization for us to have this moment in history. Their reports have been helpful in my line of work.

There is this old joke, which shows how limited the minds of the elite are: A criminal has a gun and says to the rich man, "Your life or your money." The rich man replies, "You have to take my life, because I need my money!" That is how the elite think. They prioritize money over all, including life. And Mother Earth is dying from their actions.

I have no trust in the current political and economic elite. I oppositely believe in the wisdom of the average person on the street. I have several friends here at Care2 I would prefer to see take political office; they would be more mature than any of those who have political power presently. For example with a person like you Just, I believe we would get some proper laws and policies drafted and implemented.

Monday August 15, 2011, 2:25 am
I understand and share your frustration dear Ben. Maybe humanity has become too passive to stand up for own rights and those of others. However, there are glimmers of hope here and there. There is for example Karen Armstrong and her Charter for Compassion. I have signed up, maybe you would like to follow suit? I would add rage to compassion, because the harm the elite has done already is beyond acceptable. However, we must not forget that compassion is an action that starts at home. Nevertheless, I would foresee that we soon have to take our rage of compassion to the streets, because our politicians are not listening to us.

Monday August 15, 2011, 3:23 am
It is our moral duty to protect these people and their way of life. It is simply a human duty also. And when, oh when, are we going to stop pillaging the rainforest, when it is so essential to the entire planet and, therefore, hugely beneficial to all life on Earth ? Are we so stupidly blind ? Are we happy to sell the health of the planet off to the highest bidders ?

Monday August 15, 2011, 6:18 am
A shower of stars to you, Carole - it's frustrating to see the indifference and total greed involved in things like this - makes me want to shake the bejeebers out of the morons who feed off others and destroy our planet. But we all do what we can so gladly signed.

Thanks to all who have taken the time to sign (and hopefully, forward) this, as well as for the impassioned comments.

As for whether petitions work . . . Yes, in the past, I have wondered the same. However, I believe that petitions serve many purposes.

First, they educate those who may have been unaware of the problem and ask them to acknowledge its unfairness by signing their name to the suggested remedy. But also, so many rights are being eliminated from common citizens (both in the U.S. and other countries) that we need to HOLD ON and USE our rights to freedom of speech and petitioning for redress of grievances.

I refuse to accept that corrupt governments can feel free to do as they wish to the most vulnerable -- not because they took our rights . . . but because people willingly stopped using them.

Thank you all for being among those who feel as strongly as I do about this. It's one of the main reasons Care2 is unique -- its committed members.

Monday August 15, 2011, 11:22 am
Signed, as well as other petitions listed there too (at earlier times).
The last time I looked natives and tribal people were human beings and deserve (and have) the same rights as some wanker on Wall St. as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It's reprehensible the way history, throughout time -- and still continuing -- has shown that "explorers" were actually "conquerors/thieves" by simply disregarding the indigenous peoples, and in fact, attempting to murder them. (I have to shake my head when I recall the lies I was taught in school, revering the "discoverers" of lands which were already inhabited.)

Monday August 15, 2011, 12:11 pm
noted, and hope to make sure I sign this, as soon as change resets my account...again...., so I can login. Having glitches with that site, too. I can't sign anything right now on that site, as it tells me I have an account and must login, but when I click login, nothing happens. thank you for sharing this!

Monday August 15, 2011, 3:17 pm
Signed.
I don't think everyone understands how critical the rainsforest is to our survival...MY survival. That's where the cocoa cocoa plant comes from for CHOCOLATES!!!!! This is serious!!!

Monday August 15, 2011, 4:57 pm
Noted & signed. I sign many petitions, email government representatives, politicians, officials........... the odd petition does work and I will continue to sign and email as well as write etc because you never know which one will work!

However, it is sad that many people will read and fail to understand, or refuse to read, what is really happening in many other countries.

Monday August 15, 2011, 5:05 pm
Sweetie~ I am so glad I came back (due to the many whom have thanked me for the fwd.) as my note and words didn't appear. It is wonderful have so many ways to make our voice heard and I thank you for that.
I realize my petition signature didn't appear either. THIS TIME IT DID. I thank Ben and Carole both~ as well as the many who sent me my fwd back with their list of fwds}.

Thank you for signing the petition "Save the Rainforest- protect tribal Peoples"

Monday August 15, 2011, 7:14 pm
@ Ben Oscarcito
If you clap in appreciation at the theatre, then the cast knows you liked the play. If everyone claps in appreciation, then the cast knows that night was a success. We cannot clap for others, but we can ourselves clap in hope of encouraging others. It is about faith and hope! Never lose those two qualities.

Signed.

I learned years ago while working with teenagers that you mostly don't get know the influence you have on other people. When you do get to know, treasure it as it is a gift of the Creator.

Monday August 15, 2011, 7:42 pm
"We are now facing a difficult situation in Peru, where there
are attempts to cut back the territorial rights of the indigenous peoples,
including moves to divide, fragment and privatise our communal organisations.
Now more than ever, it is a matter of urgency for us to consolidate
our own indigenous alternatives for development."

The forest is not a resource for us, it is life itself.
It is the only place for us to live.

Monday August 15, 2011, 10:10 pm
We don't take of our own tribal peoples, so why would our Corporations be any better elsewhere? We HAVE to start Prosecuting CEO's AND their flunkies who do the dirty work! Murder by proxy is too Legal these days & Must be stopped!

Monday August 15, 2011, 10:33 pm
Gladly signed, thank you Carole for this post! We can't choose what happens to us, but at least, we can choose how we deal with it.-'W'e a l t h y D;a;t;e;r.C ó M-**------ is meant to be the place to connect with beautiful and successful people.

"Monday August 15, 2011, 10:10 pm
We don't take of our own tribal peoples, so why would our Corporations be any better elsewhere? We HAVE to start Prosecuting CEO's AND their flunkies who do the dirty work! Murder by proxy is too Legal these days & Must be stopped!"

So true, Yvonne . . . Isn't there such a thing as criminal negligence (on the parts of both the corporations, as well as our so-called protective regulatory agencies)?

Tuesday August 16, 2011, 12:21 pm
you know, everyday we click for rainforest protection & other 'click to donate' causes... i wish we could really see the results, in a report or something. where is this area being protected? is it long-term protection? if we are seeing real results, we should definitely write & thank those sponsors who are taking cuts out of their profits & making a huge difference (i hope)! i just wish we could be shown this kind of report somehow...

Tuesday August 16, 2011, 9:26 pm
Goodness Signed and did forward, and you can check since I got this forward from you Dear one...SAD that I am seeing only #329 signatures on this...Not tracking so if you want to contact me you will have to let me know...Change.Org has had problems, but I know from just checking that I at least signed and those are the #'s right now that I am seeing since I am still signed in....xxMM

Tuesday August 16, 2011, 10:56 pm
Absolutely signed my seestah *C* and posted to Twitter.
Sending a Green Star is a simple way to say "Thank you"
You cannot currently send a star to Just because you have done so within the last week.

What has 'humanity' come to? Bono asked this question recently regarding why millions of people in the Horn of Africa are dying of starvation when there is so much wealth !!!!!

i want to share this with you ... http://www.sapphyr.net/natam/quotes-nativeamerican.htm

Friend do it this way - that is,
whatever you do in life,
do the very best you can
with both your heart and mind.

And if you do it that way,
the Power Of The Universe
will come to your assistance,
if your heart and mind are in Unity.

When one sits in the Hoop Of The People,
one must be responsible because
All of Creation is related.
And the hurt of one is the hurt of all.
And the honor of one is the honor of all.
And whatever we do effects everything in the universe.

If you do it that way - that is,
if you truly join your heart and mind
as One - whatever you ask for,
that's the Way It's Going To Be.

Now, if You don't mind, I'd like to promote the Avaaz petition "World to Dilma: Save the Amazon!"
(Dilma Rousseff is the President of Brazil)
The Amazon is in serious danger: Brazil is on the verge of gutting its forest protection laws -- unless we act now, vast tracts of our planet’s lungs could be opened up to clear-cutting devastation.
This threat to the Amazon has sparked widespread anger and protests across the country and tensions are rising. In an effort to stifle criticism, armed thugs, allegedly hired by loggers, have murdered environmental advocates. But the movement is fighting back -- in four days, brave indigenous people are leading massive marches across Brazil to demand action and inside sources say President Dilma is considering vetoing the changes.

79% of Brazilians support a veto of the forest law changes and this internal pressure is leading some in Dilma's administration to back a veto. But we need a global cry of solidarity with the Brazilian people to really force Dilma's hand. Our global petition will be boldly displayed on banners at the front of the massive marches for Amazon protection. Let's reach one million to SAVE THE AMAZON! Sign the urgent petition and send this on to everyone...
825,500 have signed the petition. (Now we're talking!) Together let's reach 1,000,000!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_amazon_a/?cl=1227302822&v=9954
Thank You! Obrigado! Gracias!

Wednesday August 17, 2011, 9:05 am
signed and noted -- if we destroy the rainforest and the tribal people, plants, and animals who live there, we are destroying ourselves -- these greedy corporations need to leave the rainforest and its people/plants/animals alone! -- thanks, carole

Sunday August 21, 2011, 9:47 pm
My Seestah 'C' the Change.org petition only has 466 signatures ... i hope we can do better than that with all the members here at Care2 and on Twitter .
I posted the Campaign from Survival International tonight http://www.care2.com/news/member/213931729/2915732 Tribal Campaigns listing all the Indigenous Peoples endangered and in need of our voice.
I forgot you posted this petition and did not intend to duplicate!
Prayers for our sisters and brothers to be kept safe from loggers and oil companies in the Rainforests !

We have to calmly and thoughtfully recognize and understand the SICKNESS of GREED.
it IS a CANCER. If there's ANY good in common physical disease , it can teach us of BIGGER sicknesses thats infecting the planet. This kind of fight (against infections of greed) starts within our own hearts and actions.
Corporations only grow by being fed by continuously growing human appetite and demand.

This is MUCH more than any political war...Change must begin with every choice we make.
Drug cartels are no different than heartless World Corporations. cancerous growths feeding on life.
When demand dries up...the cancer dies...

Will WE HUMAN BEINGS be able to make the sacrifices of personal comforts in order to heal the world?
Our comfortable lifestyle and LACK of awareness of what it costing the earth is the problem.
We will send our children to die in battle simply to protect our comfort liefestyles and have our cheap gasoline.

Friday August 26, 2011, 2:50 pm
Great pooint Richard Smith.
We have the power we just need a united front. Every purchase is a vote, a political statement.
The Germans figured that out and sent Walmart packing. There is not ONE Walmart in Germany. Smart people.
Germany Chokes on Walmart